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The Canadian Baseball Network ( CBN ) promotes Canadian baseball players and teams from coast to coast. The Canadian Baseball Network features a draft list, ranking of the top Canadianbaseballprospects and featured articles.

By Adam MorissetteOSAKA, Japan – A one-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth from Team USA’s Blake Rutherford brought in the go-ahead run and they would go on to add three more in the inning en route to a 9-5 win over Canada.

With the United States already assured of a spot in tomorrow’s WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup gold medal game against Japan, a win would have put Canada into the bronze medal game. Instead, Canada will finish sixth, while Australia will battle South Korea for bronze.

Canada, on the strength of a two-run homer off the bat of Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and a two-run single from Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.), built a 5-3 lead through six innings, but the US fought back with a pair of runs in the seventh to pull even before adding four more in the eighth.

“We were right there tonight, we just weren’t in a position to be able to finish,” said Canadian manager Greg Hamilton. “It’s frustrating, but it’s the reality, unfortunately.”

The US wasted little time getting to Canadian starter Matteo Vincelli (Burnaby, BC) as they used three hits in the first inning, including a two-run double, to score three runs. All three runs came with two out in the frame.

Vincelli battled back and provided his team with 5 1/3 innings on the mound before being lifted from the game in the sixth.

“He had a little bit of jitters early which is understandable, but he did a great job,” said Hamilton. “He settled in nicely and left (the game) with the lead which gave us a chance.”

Canada answered back in the top of the second and it was Cooper Davis (Mississauga, Ont.) who delivered as he lined a single to centre that brought in Isaac Deveaux (Montréal, Que.) from third base. Deveaux had singled through the left side with one down in the inning and moved to second on a wild pitch before taking third on a groundout.

Canada tied the score in the third and it came with one swing of the bat as Naylor drilled a 1-0 offering over the wall in right-centre. The home run was Naylor’s third of the event, which gives him the tournament lead with the medal games to be played Saturday.

In the fourth, Canada had runners on second and third with two out and needed a clutch hit from Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) and he delivered as he singled through the left side on a 1-2 pitch to score both runners.

The US evened the score with a pair of two-out RBI doubles in the bottom of the sixth. Vincelli was relieved in the inning by Tyler Whitbread (Camlachie, ON) who was on the hill when the tying run scored.

Rutherford’s single gave the US the lead in the eighth and they added three more with two of the runs coming on a double to left that put the game out of reach.

“I’m really proud of this group of players,” added Hamilton. “We lost a lot of players coming over here (prior to the tournament) and I thought the guys we did have competed well. We had some new guys that jumped in and battled and gave everything they had.

“If you look at the tournament, we played every team tough. One game got away from us but outside of that we played good baseball. We gave ourselves a chance to get to the bronze medal game and we lost to the United States of America. There’s no shame in that.”

The Junior National Team program will now shift their focus to 2017 when Thunder Bay will play host to the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. Canada will gain an automatic entry into the event meaning that they will not have to qualify at the U-18 Pan American Championship in 2016.

“It’s exciting to play at home so we’re looking forward to 2017 in Thunder Bay,” said Hamilton. “Hopefully we can make some noise on home soil.”

The Junior National Team program will resume in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. for the annual Fall Instructional League Camp at ESPN Wide World of Sports from Oct. 1-11.

Adam Morissette was born and raised in Ottawa, Ont. where sports were always a big part of his life whether it be baseball, hockey or football, including playing two seasons as centre for coach Pat Sheahan with the Queen's University Golden Gaels in Kingston -- Canada's first capital. Morissette has always have been passionate about baseball and has fond memories of attending Montreal Expos games with his father, Mike, and listening to his recollection of watching baseball in Montreal at Jarry Park and stories about Gary Carter, Rusty Staub and Steve Rodgers. Morissette could often be found in a near empty Lynx Stadium watching Joe Siddall, Bert Heffernan, Curtis Pride and Jamie Carroll soaking in a beautiful summer night at the ballpark. He was a member of the provincial championship Orleans Red Sox Little League teams also played with the Ottawa White Sox for the late Lyle Anderson and Todd Burke in OBA Midget and American Legion play and the Capital City Crushers (NCBL), primarily as a catcher. Has also spent time coaching Little League in Orleans and South Ottawa. He wanted to turn his passion into a career and enrolled in Sport Business Management at Algonquin College in Ottawa in 2007. After working for the Ottawa 67's OHL team as the Ticket Coordinator, Morissette jumped at the opportunity to become the Media and Public Relations Coordinator with Baseball Canada in 2010. He loves watching and reading about pro, college or amateur baseball and is a long-time subscriber to Baseball America. Morissette is thrilled about the idea of writing about baseball and is interested in covering any story that his car -- and time -- will allow him to cover.

Canadian Baseball Network

The Canadian Baseball Network ( CBN ) promotes Canadian Baseball players and teams from coast to coast. The Canadian Baseball Network features our Draft List, ranking the top Canadianbaseballprospects and featured articles.